Girl Who Got Lung Transplant Needed Another

In this May 30 photo, Sarah Murnaghan is seen with parents Fran and Janet. (AP Photo/Murnaghan Family, File)

(Newser)
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The 10-year-old girl whose need for a lung transplant brought national attention to the way the donor waiting list works is recuperating after needing a second transplant. The parents of Sarah Murnaghan revealed yesterday that the first set of lungs their daughter received failed just hours after the operation was initially deemed a success, reports the AP. Sarah got another set of adult lungs three days later on June 15 and is gradually being weaned from a life-support ventilator, reports the Philadelphia Inquirer.

"It all happened very fast," says mom Janet. "It wasn't something we wanted to keep secret. But in that moment (after the first transplant failed), we were told she would die." Normally, kids younger than 12 can't get adult lungs, but after Sarah's parents sued to put her on the adult waiting list, a judge intervened on her behalf. The national organ-transplant agency has now created a special appeal process for such cases. (Read more Sarah Murnaghan stories.)

Greed. Survival of the fittest. Exactly who is she to receive preferential treatment? Sorry. It should not work that way. Yes it is tragic for a young child to be on death's door for want of a lung. An adult lung at that. I have no sympathy. The solution? Body autonomy. My body. Myself. I should be able if I desire to, sell MY body parts to those willing to pay. Unfortunately that is not the case. Now we have bleeding hearts bleeding all over the place crying for some little girl who needs a lung. So let's circumvent the protocol, go over the heads of others on the list so that some kid can get a life. I object. Let the wrath come.

Ivan_the_Gypsy

Jun 29, 2013 10:21 PM CDT

The question is: should a ten year old be placed ahead of an adult who probably has a family to support and with children. All the emotion that Sarah is a child clouded the issue. The answer to the question is "No" the adult is more important.

jonnymop

Jun 29, 2013 10:03 PM CDT

It is extremely sad when anyone is ill, especially kids. It isn't Obama cares fault. Any parent that didn't fight tooth and nail to save their child, well... Science and technology come up with amazing cures that we just can not afford to give to every single person that needs it, for now. But we have come a long way in the last 100 years, 50 years,10 years. Hang in there.